Richard T. Houser, 62, was transported to nearby St. Joseph Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

On Critical Mass' Facebook page there was heated dispute over whether or not emergency officials were impeded from reaching Houser in time by his fellow cyclists. One post claims that EMS officials had to navigate a large group cyclists to get to Houser, and that a few cyclists had blown bubbles in their faces.

According to Houston Fire Department spokesman Jay Evans, the emergency call was routine and there were no notes about any responders being impeded on the way to helping Houser. EMS officials went about their heart attack protocol once they arrived to the scene.

A cyclist on the ride, Martin Robb, has a trailer he pulls that has a bubble machine attached, which could have been what the Facebook post was alluding to. Robb says that he had his hands full attempting to assess and clear the scene so that access could be made to Houser, and couldn't turn off the machine amongst the chaos.

"There were zero cyclists blowing bubbles in anyone's face, let alone those of the first responders," Robb said Monday.

There were just over 2,500 riders in this month's event, Critical Mass cyclist Dan Morgan said.

Anthony Simpson, 37, was Houser's neighbor and frequent cycling partner. He and Houser had both ridden with the group for the past year. According to Simpson, Houser had been complaining that his arms and hands had been tingling in the minutes leading up to his heart attack.

Just after 9 p.m. Friday, a group of cyclists was on Memorial Drive east heading into downtown when Houser drifted off near the Shepherd and Kirby exit. This was about 12 to 15 miles into the route.

"I was ahead of him and I heard a loud fall and a clunk, and I didn't see his orange hat anymore," said Simpson. He went back to check on Houser, who had hit his head on the pavement after suffering the heart attack and falling off his mountain bike.

Other cyclists began tending to Houser and the call went out for those that could help him while an ambulance was called. Simpson said one young cyclist came and checked Houser's pulse and began CPR on the spot.

According to Simpson, Houser was one of the oldest cyclists who take part in Houston's Critical Mass.

He and Houser rode about five times a week together, hitting it off as neighbors first.

"He just enjoyed bicycling," said Simpson. "He would always ask, 'When you get home from work, let me know because I wanna go riding,'" said Simpson, who's comforted by the fact that Houser died doing something he loved surrounded by his friends.

To Simpson's knowledge there have been no other instances of a cyclist dying while riding with Critical Mass on their monthly group rides through Houston.

Houser leaves behind a wife, two adult children and one granddaughter.